Post by SORTING HAT on Mar 31, 2008 21:52:36 GMT -5
A/N: Well this was a work in progress, but I finally pieced it together. =]
Thanks to my mom for inspiration and real-life stories. I am so sorry for putting you through it. Good thing I was a baby and you can't hold it against me though, right?
It was two forty-six in the morning when Lisette heard the unmistakable wail of her child - one of them, at least. She groaned, having an inkling as to who it was already. She was tired; her back ached and her muscles were pleading for some rest, but she couldn’t leave her child crying. She rolled over a bit and saw the figure of her husband, looking weary, even asleep. She sighed, hoping he wouldn’t wake. Her husband of one year always came home weary from a hard day at the ministry, but he didn’t complain. She couldn’t help but feel proud of Lan. He did everything he could to make her stay at his parent’s house comforting. She, in turn, made her efforts to show her gratitude and tonight, she’d show them by giving them a full night’s rest. Although no one complained, she had a knowing feeling that no one slept well the night before.
The cold wooden floor made her want to roll back under the warm comfort of her sheets. It seemed as though Kate could read her mind though, since the volume of her soft cries increased. Lisette quickly shuffled over to the room across the hall, taking a look down both ends, and entered the room, quickly shutting the door behind her. She rubbed a sleepy hand over her eyes as she peered into the crib. Sure enough, it was Kate who was crying. The small child was fighting and kicking back the plush, pink blanket. Her face was beginning to get a bit pink, and Lisette knew it would soon be a beet red if she didn’t do calm her down soon. She quickly pulled out her wand and placed a silencing charm over Robert’s crib. The boy was awake now, but if he didn’t hear any more crying, he’d go right back to sleep.
Kate, at six months, was a rather fussy child. She hated being alone, but then again, she didn’t like being held for more than five minutes. She didn’t like mashed peas, carrots or apples. She hated warm baths and she didn’t like her swing either. Robert fussed too, but not as much as Kate did. He, at least, could be pleased rather easily. However, the two seemed to get along just fine. There wasn’t any sense of rivalry - yet, at least.
Meg Dawkins was always there with a kind smile and much - needed advice. Lisette was grateful, but embarrassed as well. She was only eighteen and already she was tied to schedule that involved diapers and teething rings. Poor Mrs. Dawkins was an early grandmother. If she didn’t like it, she never complained. Lisette appreciated that, but it made her a bit uncomfortable as well.
“Shh shh, hun….Mommy’s here.” She whispered groggily at Kate, picking the child from her crib. She cradled the small in her arms and gently patted her on the back. “Wet diaper?” She asked the cranky child. “Is that it?”
She bent over the child and checked her, but there wasn’t any sign of a soiled diaper. Still, Dr. Spock recommended a changing either way, so Lisette took Kate to the changing station at the end of the room and placed her down. At once Kate fussed even more and began flailing her little arms. Lisette tried to get a grip on her child as she changed the diaper, but couldn’t succeed with the tiny kicks. For a second, the dark thought of using a stunning charm crossed her mind, but Lisette quickly chased it away. She would never use magic against her children. After a frustrating five minutes, Kate was changed and ready for bed.
“Come here Katie,” She murmured to her child as she made her way to rocking chair. “Let’s get you to sleep.” She rocked her back and forth until Lisette’s own eyes began to fail her, but Kate’s tiny kicks at her middle would always awaken her. It was as if Kate wanted a mother with bags under her eyes. “Shh shh…” She repeated softly. “Duermete mi nina, duermeteme ya. Duermete mi cielo, que dezcanse ya. [Sleep, my child, sleep. Sleep my child now. Sleep my angel baby, and rest your weary eyes.]”
The soft Spanish lullaby didn’t seem to take to Kate though. She began kicking again and balled her hands into little fists. How was it that Kate seemed intent on hating something Lisette adored? “Ok, Ok.” Lisette told her, now getting up. “Let’s give you a bath, yes? A nice, warm bath…”
The young mother made her way over to the bathroom across the hall, to the left of her own bedroom and began undressing her child. Kate, now getting a wind of this, began crying once more. She didn’t want a bath. Lisette sighed and took of the child’s plush pajamas, and began to wash her child’s soft skin with a warm, soapy cloth. Still, Kate would cry. “Come on, Kate,” Lisette encouraged. “The water’s warm. Look.” She cupped her hand and let the water trickle down her back. As soon as the water hit her flesh, Kate’s cries increased. Lisette shut her eyes, and quickly dried her child off.
“Hungry?” She questioned, changing her child as quick as she could. “You want to eat? Is that it?” She carried her fussy child over to her room and sat down once more in the rocking chair, taking a small blanket and covering herself and her child with it. But Kate wouldn’t suck; she wouldn’t eat, no matter what Lisette tried.
Lisette checked the clock from the moon’s light and noticed that she had been trying to get her child to sleep for a little over an hour. She gave a frustrated groan. This would be another sleepless night for her. She rocked her child for a bit, finally sick of it. She knew she couldn’t be a mother. But why not? She did all Meg told her. Why was Kate so fussy? She stopped suddenly, realizing that Kate was no longer crying.
As soon as she stopped rocking, Kate’s small, adorable lips formed a pout. “No no no!” Lisette whispered, beginning to rock once more. “Don’t cry!” She urged her child, over the wails. “Mummy’s here! I won’t let anything hurt you. Please Kate.” Lisette clutched her child closer, and got up, patting her on her back and bouncing her ever so slightly.
“Shh….” She urged. “Kate? Katie? You wanna see magic?” She took her child back to the changing station and propped her up slightly. She took out her wand and waved it a bit. Small, puffs of colorful smoke came out, each one smelling rather sweet.
Kate stopped crying, and looked up at the puffs with large curious eyes. “Do you like magic?” Lisette risked in asking. Kate made a motion to grab a puff, cooing as it vaporized in her fist. Lisette laughed softly. “I like magic too.” She confided.
Knowing it wasn’t best to leave Kate on her back at the station, she picked her up (this time without sharp kicks) and took her back to the rocking chair by the window, kissing her softly on the forehead as she sat down. Mother and child somehow drifted to sleep in the early hours of the morning. Lan later found the two, with the little one holding the wand in her small fist.
Thanks to my mom for inspiration and real-life stories. I am so sorry for putting you through it. Good thing I was a baby and you can't hold it against me though, right?
It was two forty-six in the morning when Lisette heard the unmistakable wail of her child - one of them, at least. She groaned, having an inkling as to who it was already. She was tired; her back ached and her muscles were pleading for some rest, but she couldn’t leave her child crying. She rolled over a bit and saw the figure of her husband, looking weary, even asleep. She sighed, hoping he wouldn’t wake. Her husband of one year always came home weary from a hard day at the ministry, but he didn’t complain. She couldn’t help but feel proud of Lan. He did everything he could to make her stay at his parent’s house comforting. She, in turn, made her efforts to show her gratitude and tonight, she’d show them by giving them a full night’s rest. Although no one complained, she had a knowing feeling that no one slept well the night before.
The cold wooden floor made her want to roll back under the warm comfort of her sheets. It seemed as though Kate could read her mind though, since the volume of her soft cries increased. Lisette quickly shuffled over to the room across the hall, taking a look down both ends, and entered the room, quickly shutting the door behind her. She rubbed a sleepy hand over her eyes as she peered into the crib. Sure enough, it was Kate who was crying. The small child was fighting and kicking back the plush, pink blanket. Her face was beginning to get a bit pink, and Lisette knew it would soon be a beet red if she didn’t do calm her down soon. She quickly pulled out her wand and placed a silencing charm over Robert’s crib. The boy was awake now, but if he didn’t hear any more crying, he’d go right back to sleep.
Kate, at six months, was a rather fussy child. She hated being alone, but then again, she didn’t like being held for more than five minutes. She didn’t like mashed peas, carrots or apples. She hated warm baths and she didn’t like her swing either. Robert fussed too, but not as much as Kate did. He, at least, could be pleased rather easily. However, the two seemed to get along just fine. There wasn’t any sense of rivalry - yet, at least.
Meg Dawkins was always there with a kind smile and much - needed advice. Lisette was grateful, but embarrassed as well. She was only eighteen and already she was tied to schedule that involved diapers and teething rings. Poor Mrs. Dawkins was an early grandmother. If she didn’t like it, she never complained. Lisette appreciated that, but it made her a bit uncomfortable as well.
“Shh shh, hun….Mommy’s here.” She whispered groggily at Kate, picking the child from her crib. She cradled the small in her arms and gently patted her on the back. “Wet diaper?” She asked the cranky child. “Is that it?”
She bent over the child and checked her, but there wasn’t any sign of a soiled diaper. Still, Dr. Spock recommended a changing either way, so Lisette took Kate to the changing station at the end of the room and placed her down. At once Kate fussed even more and began flailing her little arms. Lisette tried to get a grip on her child as she changed the diaper, but couldn’t succeed with the tiny kicks. For a second, the dark thought of using a stunning charm crossed her mind, but Lisette quickly chased it away. She would never use magic against her children. After a frustrating five minutes, Kate was changed and ready for bed.
“Come here Katie,” She murmured to her child as she made her way to rocking chair. “Let’s get you to sleep.” She rocked her back and forth until Lisette’s own eyes began to fail her, but Kate’s tiny kicks at her middle would always awaken her. It was as if Kate wanted a mother with bags under her eyes. “Shh shh…” She repeated softly. “Duermete mi nina, duermeteme ya. Duermete mi cielo, que dezcanse ya. [Sleep, my child, sleep. Sleep my child now. Sleep my angel baby, and rest your weary eyes.]”
The soft Spanish lullaby didn’t seem to take to Kate though. She began kicking again and balled her hands into little fists. How was it that Kate seemed intent on hating something Lisette adored? “Ok, Ok.” Lisette told her, now getting up. “Let’s give you a bath, yes? A nice, warm bath…”
The young mother made her way over to the bathroom across the hall, to the left of her own bedroom and began undressing her child. Kate, now getting a wind of this, began crying once more. She didn’t want a bath. Lisette sighed and took of the child’s plush pajamas, and began to wash her child’s soft skin with a warm, soapy cloth. Still, Kate would cry. “Come on, Kate,” Lisette encouraged. “The water’s warm. Look.” She cupped her hand and let the water trickle down her back. As soon as the water hit her flesh, Kate’s cries increased. Lisette shut her eyes, and quickly dried her child off.
“Hungry?” She questioned, changing her child as quick as she could. “You want to eat? Is that it?” She carried her fussy child over to her room and sat down once more in the rocking chair, taking a small blanket and covering herself and her child with it. But Kate wouldn’t suck; she wouldn’t eat, no matter what Lisette tried.
Lisette checked the clock from the moon’s light and noticed that she had been trying to get her child to sleep for a little over an hour. She gave a frustrated groan. This would be another sleepless night for her. She rocked her child for a bit, finally sick of it. She knew she couldn’t be a mother. But why not? She did all Meg told her. Why was Kate so fussy? She stopped suddenly, realizing that Kate was no longer crying.
As soon as she stopped rocking, Kate’s small, adorable lips formed a pout. “No no no!” Lisette whispered, beginning to rock once more. “Don’t cry!” She urged her child, over the wails. “Mummy’s here! I won’t let anything hurt you. Please Kate.” Lisette clutched her child closer, and got up, patting her on her back and bouncing her ever so slightly.
“Shh….” She urged. “Kate? Katie? You wanna see magic?” She took her child back to the changing station and propped her up slightly. She took out her wand and waved it a bit. Small, puffs of colorful smoke came out, each one smelling rather sweet.
Kate stopped crying, and looked up at the puffs with large curious eyes. “Do you like magic?” Lisette risked in asking. Kate made a motion to grab a puff, cooing as it vaporized in her fist. Lisette laughed softly. “I like magic too.” She confided.
Knowing it wasn’t best to leave Kate on her back at the station, she picked her up (this time without sharp kicks) and took her back to the rocking chair by the window, kissing her softly on the forehead as she sat down. Mother and child somehow drifted to sleep in the early hours of the morning. Lan later found the two, with the little one holding the wand in her small fist.